dom.blog

And I love it! Finally Internet Explorer has integrated pop up blocking, and Active X (those horrible downloads where you are pressured into installing malware) are completely tamed.

One of my favourite new features is called ‘Manage Add-ons’ and is also found in Internet Explorer. You can view all of those little browser additions such as the Google Toolbar, or Flash, and choose whether to disable, enable or update them. I suspect this will aid hugely in the fight against spyware, or at least make it easier for people to turn them off.

Just two strange things to report – firstly, the boot screen has lost its ‘Home Edition’ tag and is now simply ‘Windows XP’, which is odd. Might be something to do with the fact I installed the whole 266MB package?

And slightly more serious – when I disable McAfee anti virus the Security Centre doesn’t seem to warn me, as it should do. Oh well, I’m sure these things will get smoothed out over time.

Windows XP SP2 is a scary installation – with a lot of “I really should have made a backup” moments, but it’s well worth it in the end.

Popups – Rest in Peace

I’ve updated my ‘Surfing at School’ page with new information:

Update! Well, guess who decided to get into the game, albeit a little late? You can now use a very realistic version of MSN Messenger on the web direct from Microsoft itself – check out Web Messenger and start chatting!

http://dominicself.co.uk/surfingatschool.html

I wonder if MSN will keep this free or if it will become one of their paid for services?

The final episode of 60s cult classic ‘The Prisoner’ was on BBC FOUR last night (and they actually managed to show it without ‘accidentally’ cropping into widescreen or DOGing for once.)

Is everything explained? Well – no. This series started out as an off beat idea and morphed into surreal craziness, but just sane enough so that you can bear to watch. It’s also excellent. Quite telling that originally it was made and shown on ITV, who would never broadcast anything of such quality today.

Anyone who likes sci-fi, fantasy or just generally weird TV should try and see The Prisoner during their life, if only to admire the midget butler.

Just saw another great show at the Tricycle theatre (do they ever disappoint??) featuring Marc Salem – the US equivalent of Derren Brown – and Mind Games. Great stuff, and incredibly spooky, but it’s always fun when you can spot his little directions and manipulations. Go see!

Woo hoo!

The Daleks will be back in the new series of Doctor Who, due to be broadcast next year (around March 2005)

Yes, I know they weren’t going to be, but now all the issues have been resolved. I can’t wait!

Don’t believe me? Check out BBC NEWS

Hopefully now people won’t ask what on earth the title of this blog means either.